GHETTO GATE : THE BUZZ AROUND CAMPUS

Cameron Rivers

North Carolina A&T

To be or not to be ghetto? That is the question that is stirring the pot on social media after HBCU twitter account TheHBCUHIVE called out North Carolina A&T Student Government Association President Allison Gilmore for her use of MakeNCATGhettoAgain hashtag this past weekend. In response to Fields tweeting the hashtag, the HBCU HIVE Twitter tweeted out, “Please delete this mam. HBCUs are not synonymous with ghetto. Now had a black UNCG student referred to NCAT as ghetto it would be WWII on here.”

According to Gilmore, the use of the hashtag is used to promote a positive culture shift, and the word “ghetto” is not used in a negative connotation. She responded by tweeting, “It’s 2019. Ghetto has so many connotations. We all know the meaning in this context is light, playful, positive but never negative. I said what I said and I’m standing on it. I think you should reconsider your page and messaging the next time you try to attack and HBCU President.”

The use of the word “ghetto” was essential as for it sparked a conversation about how HBCU’s and North Carolina A&T specifically are viewed. From viewing hashtag both alumni are split on their opinion of the president’s tweet. Janika, A recent May 2019 graduate said, “I believe people are taking the word ghetto in a negative, literal sense. It’s not meant to be taken that way. In my opinion ghetto, lit, ratchet could all be interchangeable in a more positive sense more so meaning bringing life back to campus in general.”

Those critizing the hashtag think otherwise. As one twitter user and alumnus said, “wait a damn minute. The SGA PRESIDENT is co-signing this make NCAT ghetto again mess? Y’all need Jesus STAT, and a double dose.” According to one twitter user this controversy could have been avoided. “I don’t understand why they chose to use the word ghetto. They could easily just said make NCAT lit again.” Although Gilmore and the hashtag are catching flack, she was not the only influential figure on campus that tweeted out the hashtag. Generally regarded as a big figure in DJing and party promotion tweeted the hashtag to promote a party. “This will be the party to #MakeNCATGhettoAgain. Need that NCAT energy back.”

Some students on campus are critical of the naysayers and have their president’s back. Quotes from Twitter user and sophomore at North Carolina A&T, as she responded to a tweet saying “You don’t know anything about NCAT student culture and our president’s efforts to make us united and less restrained.” While there are both student and alumni who are on both sides of the spectrum, some Twitter users are neutral about the subject. As Twitter user @Jfl000w said , “Who gives a f*ck what uncg gotta say about NCAT? Stop worry about white approval and white standards of respect. Let thes. Kids have fun.”

Since this weekend activities Gilmore tweeted out this morning thanking her student body “I am blessed to be a part of and lead a student body that is always down to ride. Every day I am thankful for those who elected me into this position. You all remind me what I do it for. Even in my. controversial conversations you all still have my back.”